The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-11
A TERRIBLE TORNADO.
Heavy Loss of Life and Great De
structiOn of Property.

Heavy Loss of Life and Great De.
structiOn of Property.
A terrific tornado has swept over the north
crn part of Vernon County, Mo. It seemed
to come down the Marmaton River from the
Kansas line, dealing death and destruction
wherever it struck. Fences, houses, barns,
and everything in the track Of the storm,
which was half mile wide. were carried
along and wrecked. Over thirty houses were
destroyed. About fifteen persons were killed
Among them were Mrs. E. Shrout, Miss
Shrout, daughter of Mrs. Shrout; May Stover,
j. G. Hawkins, John Miller and Mrs John Mil
ler OF the FIVE members of the Miller
family, four were killed. The baby,
aged two years. was dropped in the yard
and found unhurt the next morning. Parts of
the Miller House and furniture were found in
the fields mile from where the house for
merly stood. 1t is thought that the death roll
will be swelled to over twenty-five. The
wind was preceded by heavy hail storm.
which did considerable damage. Many OF
the hailstones weighed from three to five
ounces, and some of them measured nine
inches in circumference. They crashed
through the roofs of dwellings and barns,
leaving holes through which a mans
arm could pass. Considerable injury to stock
isreportei from the hail. The storm entered
the county short distance from Fort
Scott, Kansas, and traversed nearly thirty
five miles
A Little Rock (Ark.) dispatch says: Early
this morning tornado, originating in the In
dian Territory, and moving almost due east
passed through the country four miles north
and along the line of the Little Rock and Fort
and q half mile wide, and near
Ozark, Franklin county, did great
damage to trees, houses and fences Near
Coal Hill and Clarksville, johnson county,
the damage was serious, and many persons
were injured. Four miles from Clarksville
John Reeds child, G. D. Rowley's daughter,
and child of Mr.. Petty were killed. A man
named Phillips was injured by falling. tim
Der. The heavy rain was attended by
ern portion Of the city. Balls of fire seemed
to be falling at an angle of 43 degrees, They
struck the ground and bursting into myriads
Of fiery flakes rebounded several hundred
feet toward the east and died away.
An Ozark, (Ark.) special gives the follow
lowing particulars: A heavy wind ap-
preached from several directions, and the
currents met in this valley and passed up the
canyon cast Of the town, about the head of
which the funnel appearance of the cyclone
was first seen. A track 300 yards wide was
laid almost bare. Timber and all sorts of i'm
provements were blown in every direction.
The residence Of jonathan Worthy, where the
funnel first struck the ground, was blown forty
feet and levelled. Mr.. Worthy was badly hurt
McCourts church was destroyed, Mrs James
Morrison was severely bruised. E. T. W1o1-
ruff, John Alstott, Russell Mum, John Miller,
and j. A. McCourt are the principal sufferers
From st. Paul Mimi, came the following
details: The storm which started in Montana
Wednesday night reached here this after
noon, and is now general across Minnesota
as far west as Sioux City. Snow
and sleet, driven by a furious wind, have
prevailed, and the temperature has sharply
declined. At Yankton and other South
Dakota points heavy fall of snow is re-
ported but the weather is now clear.
A tornado also swept through portion of
Kentucky, south of Cincinnati, the same
morning. At Paris houses were unroofed,
and at Saundersville, near Lexington, the
roof of the Commonwealth Company's dis
tillery and warehouse was blown off, Near
Portsmouth. Ohio. Warren Carroll, on a raft
in the Ohio River, was struck by lightning
and killed.
+ During thunderstorm which passed over
Sumter County, s. c., house in which six
people were living WINS fstruck by lightning
Two boys named Harvin were prostrated,
and shortly afterward died. Strange to say,
the four other persons in the house were not
affected by the stroke.